EP0185537A2 - Improvements in or relating to cutting structures for rotary drill bits - Google Patents
Improvements in or relating to cutting structures for rotary drill bits Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0185537A2 EP0185537A2 EP85309157A EP85309157A EP0185537A2 EP 0185537 A2 EP0185537 A2 EP 0185537A2 EP 85309157 A EP85309157 A EP 85309157A EP 85309157 A EP85309157 A EP 85309157A EP 0185537 A2 EP0185537 A2 EP 0185537A2
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- carrier
- cutting element
- polycrystalline diamond
- brazing
- coefficient
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K31/00—Processes relevant to this subclass, specially adapted for particular articles or purposes, but not covered by only one of the preceding main groups
- B23K31/02—Processes relevant to this subclass, specially adapted for particular articles or purposes, but not covered by only one of the preceding main groups relating to soldering or welding
- B23K31/025—Connecting cutting edges or the like to tools; Attaching reinforcements to workpieces, e.g. wear-resisting zones to tableware
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
- B24D—TOOLS FOR GRINDING, BUFFING OR SHARPENING
- B24D3/00—Physical features of abrasive bodies, or sheets, e.g. abrasive surfaces of special nature; Abrasive bodies or sheets characterised by their constituents
- B24D3/007—Physical features of abrasive bodies, or sheets, e.g. abrasive surfaces of special nature; Abrasive bodies or sheets characterised by their constituents the constituent being used as bonding agent between different parts of an abrasive tool
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
- C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C04B37/00—Joining burned ceramic articles with other burned ceramic articles or other articles by heating
- C04B37/003—Joining burned ceramic articles with other burned ceramic articles or other articles by heating by means of an interlayer consisting of a combination of materials selected from glass, or ceramic material with metals, metal oxides or metal salts
- C04B37/006—Joining burned ceramic articles with other burned ceramic articles or other articles by heating by means of an interlayer consisting of a combination of materials selected from glass, or ceramic material with metals, metal oxides or metal salts consisting of metals or metal salts
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
- C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C04B2237/00—Aspects relating to ceramic laminates or to joining of ceramic articles with other articles by heating
- C04B2237/02—Aspects relating to interlayers, e.g. used to join ceramic articles with other articles by heating
- C04B2237/12—Metallic interlayers
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
- C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C04B2237/00—Aspects relating to ceramic laminates or to joining of ceramic articles with other articles by heating
- C04B2237/02—Aspects relating to interlayers, e.g. used to join ceramic articles with other articles by heating
- C04B2237/12—Metallic interlayers
- C04B2237/122—Metallic interlayers based on refractory metals
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
- C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C04B2237/00—Aspects relating to ceramic laminates or to joining of ceramic articles with other articles by heating
- C04B2237/02—Aspects relating to interlayers, e.g. used to join ceramic articles with other articles by heating
- C04B2237/12—Metallic interlayers
- C04B2237/124—Metallic interlayers based on copper
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
- C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C04B2237/00—Aspects relating to ceramic laminates or to joining of ceramic articles with other articles by heating
- C04B2237/30—Composition of layers of ceramic laminates or of ceramic or metallic articles to be joined by heating, e.g. Si substrates
- C04B2237/32—Ceramic
- C04B2237/36—Non-oxidic
- C04B2237/363—Carbon
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
- C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C04B2237/00—Aspects relating to ceramic laminates or to joining of ceramic articles with other articles by heating
- C04B2237/30—Composition of layers of ceramic laminates or of ceramic or metallic articles to be joined by heating, e.g. Si substrates
- C04B2237/32—Ceramic
- C04B2237/36—Non-oxidic
- C04B2237/365—Silicon carbide
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
- C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C04B2237/00—Aspects relating to ceramic laminates or to joining of ceramic articles with other articles by heating
- C04B2237/50—Processing aspects relating to ceramic laminates or to the joining of ceramic articles with other articles by heating
- C04B2237/72—Forming laminates or joined articles comprising at least two interlayers directly next to each other
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
- C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C04B2237/00—Aspects relating to ceramic laminates or to joining of ceramic articles with other articles by heating
- C04B2237/50—Processing aspects relating to ceramic laminates or to the joining of ceramic articles with other articles by heating
- C04B2237/76—Forming laminates or joined articles comprising at least one member in the form other than a sheet or disc, e.g. two tubes or a tube and a sheet or disc
Definitions
- the invention relates to cutting structures for rotary drill bits for use in drilling or coring deep holes in subsurface formations.
- the invention is applicable to cutting structures for rotary drill bits of the kind comprising a bit body having a shank for connection to the drill string and an inner channel for supplying drilling fluid to the face of the bit, the bit body carrying a plurality of cutting structures.
- Each cutting structure comprises a cutting element, often in the form of a circular disc, having a hard cutting face formed of polycrystalline diamond or other superhard material and mounted on a carrier which is, in turn, mounted on the bit body.
- each cutting element has usually been a preform comprising two layers: a hard facing layer formed of polycrystalline diamond or other superhard material, and a backing layer formed of less hard material, usually cemented tungsten carbide, the two layers being bonded together during formation of the cutting element in a high pressure forming press.
- each cutting structure includes a stud or post to which the polycrystalline diamond preform is brazed, the stud or post being received and secured, for example by shrink fitting, in a socket in the steel bodied bit.
- the post or stud is formed from a hard and erosion resistant material such as cemented tungsten carbide.
- This material has most commonly been applied to rotary drill bits by setting pieces of the material in the surface of the bit body so as to project partly from the surface, using similar methods to that previously used to mount natural diamonds in a bit body.
- sine such thermally stable elements do not have a backing layer to provide support, they have normally been of substantially greater thickness, in the cutting direction, than the diamond layer of conventional two-layer preforms in order to provide the necessary strength.
- Thermally stable polycrystalline diamond cutting elements are available which are of similar shape to the conventional two-layer preforms, for example in the form of thin circular discs, and various methods have been devised for mounting such cutting elements on a bit body.
- the use of elements of such shapes is advantageous since they provide a degree of self-sharpening. This is due to the fact that the material on which the cutting element is mounted will be less hard than the polycrystalline diamond material of the cutting element, and thus wears away more rapidly in use.
- thermally stable cutting elements has the advantage, over conventional two-layer preforms, that higher brazing temperatures may be used to obtain the required strength for the brazed joint, without the need for sophisticated cooling techniques and yet without the risk of the preform being damaged by overheating.
- the use of such thermally stable preforms also has the advantage that they are less liable to damage through overheating during use on a drill bit.
- the preforms may also be cheaper to manufacture than two-layer preforms, one possible reason for this being that since they are not initially formed with a backing layer they may be thinner than two-layer preforms so that more of them may be formed in the press at the same time.
- thermally stable cutting elements may also be advantageous in the case where the bit body is formed by a powder metallurgy process.
- a mould is packed with powdered material, such as tungsten carbide, which is then infiltrated with a metal alloy binder, such as copper alloy, in a furnace so as to form a hard matrix.
- the maximum furnace temperature required to form the matrix may be of the order of 1050° to 1170 o C.
- conventional two-layer preforms are only thermally stable to a temperature of about 700° to 750°C and for this reason it has been necessary to mount the cutting elements on the bit body after it has been formed in the furnace.
- thermally stable preforms the preforms may be located in the mould so that they become embedded in the surface of the bit body at the same time as the infiltrated matrix is formed in the furnace.
- thermally stable polycrystalline diamond cutting elements which are of similar shapes to the conventional two-layer preforms, for example in the form of thin discs.
- a thermally stable cutting element on a bit body, whether it be of steel or of infiltrated matrix
- a carrier to which the thermally stable cutting element is brazed.
- carrier should be formed of tungsten carbide, which, as previously mentioned, is the material normally used for the carrier in the case of conventional two-layer, non-thermally stable preforms.
- problems arise in brazing thermally stable cutting elements to carriers of tungsten carbide.
- the substantial difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the polycrystalline diamond material and tungsten carbide, at the brazing temperature results in substantial stresses arising when the cutting structure is cooled after brazing, resulting in failure of the cutting element and/or carrier or, at the very least weakening of the bond.
- This disadvantage offsets the advantage of being able to use a higher brazing temperature.
- the present invention sets out to provide a method of manufacturing a cutting structure, using a thermally stable polycrystalline diamond cutting element, in which at least certain of the problems encountered hitherto may be overcome.
- the invention provides a method of forming a cutting structure for a rotary drill bit comprising brazing a thermally stable polycrystalline diamond cutting element to a carrier, the carrier being formed of a material such that, at the brazing temperature, the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between said material and the polycrystalline diamond material is less than the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between tungsten carbide and the polycrystalline diamond material.
- the coefficient of thermal expansion of a material varies with temperature. Although, for the purpose of convenient comparison, it is conventional to refer to the coefficient of thermal expansion 'at the brazing temperature', it is to be understood that such coefficient, when quoted in this fashion, in fact represents an average figure for the coefficient of thermal expansion over the range of temperature from ambient temperature up to the brazing temperature.
- the carrier a material, other than tungsten carbide, of suitable coefficient of thermal expansion, the stresses induced in the carrier and cutting element during brazing of the cutting element to the carrier may be reduced, thus reducing in turn the risk of failure of either element, or of the braze.
- the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between said carrier material and the polycrystalline diamond, material is preferably less than 3 x 10 6 /°C.
- a suitable material for the carrier is silicon carbide.
- the coefficient of thermal expansion of polycrystalline diamond, at a typical brazing temperature is of the order of 3 x 10 -6 /°C
- the coefficient for tungsten carbide is of the order of 6 x 10 /°C.
- the coefficient of thermal expansion of silicon carbide is likely to be in the range of 3 x 10 -6 /°C to 4.5 x 10 -6 /°C, depending on the temperature range of brazing.
- silicon carbide as a carrier material may also have the advantage of facilitating the brazing of the cutting element to the carrier.
- Some types of thermally stable polycrystalline diamond cutting element are formed using a silicon and/or silicon carbide catalyst, with the result that the finished cutting element incorporates silicon carbide particles between the diamond crystals. This facilitates the brazing of the cutting element to the carrier when the carrier is also formed of silicon carbide.
- Other methods of facilitating the brazing of the thermally stable cutting element to the carrier may include the preliminary step, prior to brazing, of coating the thermally stable cutting element with a suitable material.
- the carrier in the case where a material other than silicon carbide is used for the carrier, such material, in addition to having the desired coefficient of thermal expansion as referred to above, must also have the other characteristics necessary in a carrier for a cutting element. Thus, it must be capable of being brazed to the cutting element and of withstanding the brazing temperature. It is also desirable that the finished cutting structure as a whole, comprising the cutting element and carrier, should also be thermally stable so that the structure may be incorporated in a matrix bit body during formation of the bit body in the furnace. To achieve this the brazing temperature must be higher than that of the infiltration temperature in the matrix-forming furnace, and the material of the carrier must in that case also be able to withstand the necessary brazing temperature. Furthermore, the modulus of elasticity of the carrier material should also be sufficient to provide adequate support for the cutting element and should, preferably, be comparable to the modulus of elasticity of tungsten carbide.
- the coefficient of thermal expansion of the carrier material is also preferably not less than that of polycrystalline diamond, although the invention does include within its scope the use of materials having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than that of polycrystalline diamond, provided that the difference in coefficient is as previously specified according to the invention.
- the invention also includes within its scope a cutting structure when formed by the method according to the invention, and a rotary drill bit incorporating a plurality of such cutting structures.
- thermally stable cutting element and the carrier may be of any form according to the requirements of the drill bit design and Figures 1a and 1b to 4a to 4b of the accompanying drawings illustrate typical forms of cutting structure which may be manufactured by the method according to the invention.
- thermally stable cutting element is indicated at 10 and the carrier at 11.
- Typical brazing alloys which might be used for brazing the thermally stable cutting element to the carrier are those manufactured by GTE Wesgo under the trade marks 'CUSIL-ABA', 'INCUSIL-10 ABA', 'INCUSIL-15 ABA' and 'CRONIRO'.
- Other alloys which may be used to braze the thermally stable cutting elements to silicon carbide carriers are copper/phosphorus alloys and germanium/ silicon alloys with titanium. Brazing with the latter alloy is usually done in a vacuum at a temperature of 1200° to 1300°C.
- Suitable alloys for coating are copper based alloys which contain an element with a strong carbide- forming property, such as chromium, vanadium, titanium and boron. Such alloys are commercially available.
- a good brazable coating may also be applied to the cutting element by vapour deposition of a good carbide -forming element, the cutting element, after the vapour deposition, being heated until the element reacts with the diamond.
- Suitable elements may be chromium, titanium, zirconium and silicon.
- Ready coated thermally stable polycrystalline diamond preforms are also commercially available.
- Syndax 3 which is a silicon filled thermally stable diamond preform.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Drilling Tools (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The invention relates to cutting structures for rotary drill bits for use in drilling or coring deep holes in subsurface formations.
- In particular, the invention is applicable to cutting structures for rotary drill bits of the kind comprising a bit body having a shank for connection to the drill string and an inner channel for supplying drilling fluid to the face of the bit, the bit body carrying a plurality of cutting structures. Each cutting structure comprises a cutting element, often in the form of a circular disc, having a hard cutting face formed of polycrystalline diamond or other superhard material and mounted on a carrier which is, in turn, mounted on the bit body.
- Conventionally, each cutting element has usually been a preform comprising two layers: a hard facing layer formed of polycrystalline diamond or other superhard material, and a backing layer formed of less hard material, usually cemented tungsten carbide, the two layers being bonded together during formation of the cutting element in a high pressure forming press.
- In one common form of drill bit of the above- mentioned type, the bit body is machined from steel and each cutting structure includes a stud or post to which the polycrystalline diamond preform is brazed, the stud or post being received and secured, for example by shrink fitting, in a socket in the steel bodied bit. The post or stud is formed from a hard and erosion resistant material such as cemented tungsten carbide.
- Conventional two-layer preforms of the kind referred to above are only thermally stable up to a temperature of about 700° to 750°C. Due to this limitation, problems have arisen in brazing the preforms sufficiently securely to the stud or post. Generally speaking, the strength of a brazed joint depends on the liquidus temperature of the braze alloy - the higher the liquidus temperature the greater the strength. Accordingly, if the brazing is carried out at a temperature which the preform can withstand the resultant brazed joint may not be sufficiently strong to resist the substantial mechanical forces to which it is subjected during drilling. The joint may also fail as a result of high temperatures reached during drilling.
- If a higher temperature brazing process is employed, however, sophisticated cooling techniques must be employed to protect the two-layer preform from the high temperature at which brazing takes place. Such techniques are described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,319,707.
- There are, however, now available polycrystalline diamond materials which are thermally stable at higher temperatures, for example temperatures over about 1100°C. Such a thermally stable diamond material is supplied by the General Electric Company under the trademark 'GEOSET'.
- This material has most commonly been applied to rotary drill bits by setting pieces of the material in the surface of the bit body so as to project partly from the surface, using similar methods to that previously used to mount natural diamonds in a bit body. However, sine such thermally stable elements do not have a backing layer to provide support, they have normally been of substantially greater thickness, in the cutting direction, than the diamond layer of conventional two-layer preforms in order to provide the necessary strength.
- Thermally stable polycrystalline diamond cutting elements are available which are of similar shape to the conventional two-layer preforms, for example in the form of thin circular discs, and various methods have been devised for mounting such cutting elements on a bit body. The use of elements of such shapes is advantageous since they provide a degree of self-sharpening. This is due to the fact that the material on which the cutting element is mounted will be less hard than the polycrystalline diamond material of the cutting element, and thus wears away more rapidly in use.
- The use of thermally stable cutting elements has the advantage, over conventional two-layer preforms, that higher brazing temperatures may be used to obtain the required strength for the brazed joint, without the need for sophisticated cooling techniques and yet without the risk of the preform being damaged by overheating. The use of such thermally stable preforms also has the advantage that they are less liable to damage through overheating during use on a drill bit. The preforms may also be cheaper to manufacture than two-layer preforms, one possible reason for this being that since they are not initially formed with a backing layer they may be thinner than two-layer preforms so that more of them may be formed in the press at the same time.
- The use of thermally stable cutting elements may also be advantageous in the case where the bit body is formed by a powder metallurgy process. In such process a mould is packed with powdered material, such as tungsten carbide, which is then infiltrated with a metal alloy binder, such as copper alloy, in a furnace so as to form a hard matrix. The maximum furnace temperature required to form the matrix may be of the order of 1050° to 1170oC. As previously mentioned, conventional two-layer preforms are only thermally stable to a temperature of about 700° to 750°C and for this reason it has been necessary to mount the cutting elements on the bit body after it has been formed in the furnace. However, if thermally stable preforms are used the preforms may be located in the mould so that they become embedded in the surface of the bit body at the same time as the infiltrated matrix is formed in the furnace. Again, however, in order to obtain a degree of self-sharpening it is desirable to be able to use thermally stable polycrystalline diamond cutting elements which are of similar shapes to the conventional two-layer preforms, for example in the form of thin discs.
- Thus, in order to facilitate the mounting of a thermally stable cutting element on a bit body, whether it be of steel or of infiltrated matrix, it would be advantageous to incorporate the cutting element in a cutting structure including a carrier to which the thermally stable cutting element is brazed. Hitherto, it has been considered that such carrier should be formed of tungsten carbide, which, as previously mentioned, is the material normally used for the carrier in the case of conventional two-layer, non-thermally stable preforms. However, problems arise in brazing thermally stable cutting elements to carriers of tungsten carbide. In particular, the substantial difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the polycrystalline diamond material and tungsten carbide, at the brazing temperature, results in substantial stresses arising when the cutting structure is cooled after brazing, resulting in failure of the cutting element and/or carrier or, at the very least weakening of the bond. This disadvantage offsets the advantage of being able to use a higher brazing temperature. The present invention sets out to provide a method of manufacturing a cutting structure, using a thermally stable polycrystalline diamond cutting element, in which at least certain of the problems encountered hitherto may be overcome.
- Accordingly, the invention provides a method of forming a cutting structure for a rotary drill bit comprising brazing a thermally stable polycrystalline diamond cutting element to a carrier, the carrier being formed of a material such that, at the brazing temperature, the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between said material and the polycrystalline diamond material is less than the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between tungsten carbide and the polycrystalline diamond material.
- As is well known, the coefficient of thermal expansion of a material varies with temperature. Although, for the purpose of convenient comparison, it is conventional to refer to the coefficient of thermal expansion 'at the brazing temperature', it is to be understood that such coefficient, when quoted in this fashion, in fact represents an average figure for the coefficient of thermal expansion over the range of temperature from ambient temperature up to the brazing temperature.
- Thus, by selecting for the carrier a material, other than tungsten carbide, of suitable coefficient of thermal expansion, the stresses induced in the carrier and cutting element during brazing of the cutting element to the carrier may be reduced, thus reducing in turn the risk of failure of either element, or of the braze.
- In order to achieve a significant improvement, the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between said carrier material and the polycrystalline diamond, material is preferably less than 3 x 106/°C.
- A suitable material for the carrier is silicon carbide. For example, the coefficient of thermal expansion of polycrystalline diamond, at a typical brazing temperature, is of the order of 3 x 10-6/°C, whereas the coefficient for tungsten carbide is of the order of 6 x 10 /°C. On the other hand, the coefficient of thermal expansion of silicon carbide is likely to be in the range of 3 x 10-6/°C to 4.5 x 10-6/°C, depending on the temperature range of brazing.
- In addition to overcoming problems associated with differential thermal expansion and contraction of the carrier and cutting element, the use of silicon carbide as a carrier material may also have the advantage of facilitating the brazing of the cutting element to the carrier. Some types of thermally stable polycrystalline diamond cutting element are formed using a silicon and/or silicon carbide catalyst, with the result that the finished cutting element incorporates silicon carbide particles between the diamond crystals. This facilitates the brazing of the cutting element to the carrier when the carrier is also formed of silicon carbide.
- Other methods of facilitating the brazing of the thermally stable cutting element to the carrier may include the preliminary step, prior to brazing, of coating the thermally stable cutting element with a suitable material.
- It is to be understood that, in the case where a material other than silicon carbide is used for the carrier, such material, in addition to having the desired coefficient of thermal expansion as referred to above, must also have the other characteristics necessary in a carrier for a cutting element. Thus, it must be capable of being brazed to the cutting element and of withstanding the brazing temperature. It is also desirable that the finished cutting structure as a whole, comprising the cutting element and carrier, should also be thermally stable so that the structure may be incorporated in a matrix bit body during formation of the bit body in the furnace. To achieve this the brazing temperature must be higher than that of the infiltration temperature in the matrix-forming furnace, and the material of the carrier must in that case also be able to withstand the necessary brazing temperature. Furthermore, the modulus of elasticity of the carrier material should also be sufficient to provide adequate support for the cutting element and should, preferably, be comparable to the modulus of elasticity of tungsten carbide.
- The coefficient of thermal expansion of the carrier material, as well as being less than that of tungsten carbide, is also preferably not less than that of polycrystalline diamond, although the invention does include within its scope the use of materials having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than that of polycrystalline diamond, provided that the difference in coefficient is as previously specified according to the invention.
- The invention also includes within its scope a cutting structure when formed by the method according to the invention, and a rotary drill bit incorporating a plurality of such cutting structures.
- The shape and configuration of the thermally stable cutting element and the carrier may be of any form according to the requirements of the drill bit design and Figures 1a and 1b to 4a to 4b of the accompanying drawings illustrate typical forms of cutting structure which may be manufactured by the method according to the invention. In each case the thermally stable cutting element is indicated at 10 and the carrier at 11.
- Typical brazing alloys which might be used for brazing the thermally stable cutting element to the carrier are those manufactured by GTE Wesgo under the trade marks 'CUSIL-ABA', 'INCUSIL-10 ABA', 'INCUSIL-15 ABA' and 'CRONIRO'.
- The techniques for using these brazing materials are commercially available from the manufacturers and will not therefore be described in detail.
- Other alloys which may be used to braze the thermally stable cutting elements to silicon carbide carriers are copper/phosphorus alloys and germanium/ silicon alloys with titanium. Brazing with the latter alloy is usually done in a vacuum at a temperature of 1200° to 1300°C.
- As previously mentioned, the brazing of the thermally stable cutting elements to the carrier may be facilitated by prior coating of the surface of the cutting element. Suitable alloys for coating are copper based alloys which contain an element with a strong carbide- forming property, such as chromium, vanadium, titanium and boron. Such alloys are commercially available.
- A good brazable coating may also be applied to the cutting element by vapour deposition of a good carbide -forming element, the cutting element, after the vapour deposition, being heated until the element reacts with the diamond. Suitable elements may be chromium, titanium, zirconium and silicon.
- Ready coated thermally stable polycrystalline diamond preforms are also commercially available. For example, there is supplied by DeBeers a coated version of the preform known as Syndax 3 which is a silicon filled thermally stable diamond preform.
Claims (14)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB848431633A GB8431633D0 (en) | 1984-12-14 | 1984-12-14 | Cutting structures for rotary drill bits |
GB8431633 | 1984-12-14 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0185537A2 true EP0185537A2 (en) | 1986-06-25 |
EP0185537A3 EP0185537A3 (en) | 1987-09-16 |
EP0185537B1 EP0185537B1 (en) | 1990-04-11 |
Family
ID=10571206
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP85309157A Expired - Lifetime EP0185537B1 (en) | 1984-12-14 | 1985-12-16 | Improvements in or relating to cutting structures for rotary drill bits |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US4699227A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0185537B1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA1252457A (en) |
DE (1) | DE3577053D1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB8431633D0 (en) |
IE (1) | IE57185B1 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA859565B (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0242999A2 (en) * | 1986-04-17 | 1987-10-28 | Reed Tool Company Limited | Improvements in or relating to cutting structures for rotary drill bits |
GB2206126A (en) * | 1987-06-12 | 1988-12-29 | Reed Tool Co | Manufacture of cutting structures for rotary drill bits |
US4850523A (en) * | 1988-02-22 | 1989-07-25 | General Electric Company | Bonding of thermally stable abrasive compacts to carbide supports |
US4940180A (en) * | 1988-08-04 | 1990-07-10 | Martell Trevor J | Thermally stable diamond abrasive compact body |
GB2229210A (en) * | 1989-01-26 | 1990-09-19 | Reed Tool Co | Improvements in or relating to cutter assemblies for rotary drill bits |
US5217154A (en) * | 1989-06-13 | 1993-06-08 | Small Precision Tools, Inc. | Semiconductor bonding tool |
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GB8418481D0 (en) * | 1984-07-19 | 1984-08-22 | Nl Petroleum Prod | Rotary drill bits |
US5030276A (en) * | 1986-10-20 | 1991-07-09 | Norton Company | Low pressure bonding of PCD bodies and method |
US5116568A (en) * | 1986-10-20 | 1992-05-26 | Norton Company | Method for low pressure bonding of PCD bodies |
US4943488A (en) * | 1986-10-20 | 1990-07-24 | Norton Company | Low pressure bonding of PCD bodies and method for drill bits and the like |
US4811801A (en) * | 1988-03-16 | 1989-03-14 | Smith International, Inc. | Rock bits and inserts therefor |
US4911254A (en) * | 1989-05-03 | 1990-03-27 | Hughes Tool Company | Polycrystalline diamond cutting element with mating recess |
US4976324A (en) * | 1989-09-22 | 1990-12-11 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Drill bit having diamond film cutting surface |
US5033560A (en) * | 1990-07-24 | 1991-07-23 | Dresser Industries, Inc. | Drill bit with decreasing diameter cutters |
US5337844A (en) * | 1992-07-16 | 1994-08-16 | Baker Hughes, Incorporated | Drill bit having diamond film cutting elements |
GB2272703B (en) * | 1992-11-20 | 1996-11-06 | Suisse Electronique Microtech | Abrasive tool having film-covered CBN grits bonded by brazing to a substrate |
GB2330787B (en) * | 1997-10-31 | 2001-06-06 | Camco Internat | Methods of manufacturing rotary drill bits |
US6189634B1 (en) | 1998-09-18 | 2001-02-20 | U.S. Synthetic Corporation | Polycrystalline diamond compact cutter having a stress mitigating hoop at the periphery |
US6302223B1 (en) | 1999-10-06 | 2001-10-16 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Rotary drag bit with enhanced hydraulic and stabilization characteristics |
US6823952B1 (en) * | 2000-10-26 | 2004-11-30 | Smith International, Inc. | Structure for polycrystalline diamond insert drill bit body |
US7234550B2 (en) * | 2003-02-12 | 2007-06-26 | Smith International, Inc. | Bits and cutting structures |
US8763730B2 (en) * | 2009-05-28 | 2014-07-01 | Smith International, Inc. | Diamond bonded construction with improved braze joint |
US10107042B2 (en) | 2012-09-07 | 2018-10-23 | Smith International, Inc. | Ultra-hard constructions with erosion resistance |
CN103008816B (en) * | 2012-12-27 | 2015-04-08 | 四川川庆石油钻采科技有限公司 | Welding method for welding polycrystalline diamond compacts (PDC) and tungsten carbide matrix by using silver solder |
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- 1985-12-12 US US06/808,328 patent/US4699227A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1985-12-13 ZA ZA859565A patent/ZA859565B/en unknown
- 1985-12-13 CA CA000497619A patent/CA1252457A/en not_active Expired
- 1985-12-16 EP EP85309157A patent/EP0185537B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1985-12-16 DE DE8585309157T patent/DE3577053D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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DE2457198A1 (en) * | 1974-12-04 | 1976-06-10 | Inst Materialowedenija Akademi | Brazing alloy for abrasives - is also suitable for metallizing grinding materials |
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Cited By (10)
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---|---|---|---|---|
EP0242999A2 (en) * | 1986-04-17 | 1987-10-28 | Reed Tool Company Limited | Improvements in or relating to cutting structures for rotary drill bits |
EP0242999A3 (en) * | 1986-04-17 | 1988-10-05 | Reed Tool Company Limited | Improvements in or relating to cutting structures for rotary drill bits |
GB2206126A (en) * | 1987-06-12 | 1988-12-29 | Reed Tool Co | Manufacture of cutting structures for rotary drill bits |
GB2206126B (en) * | 1987-06-12 | 1991-04-03 | Reed Tool Co | Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of cutting structures for rotary drill bits |
US4850523A (en) * | 1988-02-22 | 1989-07-25 | General Electric Company | Bonding of thermally stable abrasive compacts to carbide supports |
US4940180A (en) * | 1988-08-04 | 1990-07-10 | Martell Trevor J | Thermally stable diamond abrasive compact body |
GB2229210A (en) * | 1989-01-26 | 1990-09-19 | Reed Tool Co | Improvements in or relating to cutter assemblies for rotary drill bits |
US5060739A (en) * | 1989-01-26 | 1991-10-29 | Griffin Nigel D | Cutter assemblies for rotary drill bits, and method of manufacturing same |
GB2229210B (en) * | 1989-01-26 | 1993-01-27 | Reed Tool Co | Improvements in or relating to cutter assemblies for rotary drill bits |
US5217154A (en) * | 1989-06-13 | 1993-06-08 | Small Precision Tools, Inc. | Semiconductor bonding tool |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US4699227A (en) | 1987-10-13 |
EP0185537B1 (en) | 1990-04-11 |
GB8431633D0 (en) | 1985-01-30 |
DE3577053D1 (en) | 1990-05-17 |
EP0185537A3 (en) | 1987-09-16 |
CA1252457A (en) | 1989-04-11 |
ZA859565B (en) | 1986-11-26 |
IE57185B1 (en) | 1992-05-20 |
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